From the New York Times bestselling novelist, a stunning historical novel that follows the story of Mary Anning and Elizabeth Philpot, two extraordinary 19th century fossil hunters who changed the scientific world forever. On the windswept, fossil-strewn beaches of the English coast, poor and uneducated Mary learns that she has a unique gift: “the eye” to spot ammonites and other fossils no one … and other fossils no one else can see. When she uncovers an unusual fossilized skeleton in the cliffs near her home, she sets the religious community on edge, the townspeople to gossip, and the scientific world alight. After enduring bitter cold, thunderstorms, and landslips, her challenges only grow when she falls in love with an impossible man.
Mary soon finds an unlikely champion in prickly Elizabeth, a middle-class spinster who shares her passion for scouring the beaches. Their relationship strikes a delicate balance between fierce loyalty, mutual appreciation, and barely suppressed envy, but ultimately turns out to be their greatest asset.
From the author of At the Edge of the Orchard and Girl With a Pearl Earring comes this incredible story of two remarkable women and their voyage of discovery.
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Very good writing, characters and story…and very informative.
This is a subject new to me and it gives me a glimpse of the burden of women who are held back in this time but have great spirit.
Just not the book for me……
Hope for more like this book.
Tracy Chevalier has once again created a fact-driven historical novel crafted in her unique literary voice. This is not a quick read, nor should it be. The language and deliberate pace of the novel are melded to build the author’s wonderful characters and their diverse histories and the mores of an era that is at once more gentle and more striking than our own. The setting — coastal Sussex in the 1820s — is developed early; it is a constant canvas on which the players are richly painted. Speaking of which: like her earlier novels, Ms. Chevalier’s writing is far less about a plot than it is about her people. If you’re looking for a thriller, this isn’t it. To continue the analogy: this is far more James Lee Burke than Lee Child. Get it? Get it.
Remarkable Creatures is a wonderfully written book filled with strong characters, a plot that is unusual and and ending that is inspirational. What makes this even better is that the story is it based on actual occurances. Chevalieri is a fabulous author and I try to read whatever she writes.
This book made me want to go out immediately and start hunting for fossil. I was intrigued by the fact that people thought the fossils were from animals living now. What a life the heroine of the story led! The book is full of wonders.
One of my top ten favorite books of all time. Great historical fiction and truly informative.
This one didn’t hold my interest at all. I really tried, but gave up about 2/3 of the way through. Sorry, just not my cup of tea.
I enjoyed this book as I have enjoyithers by this author. I had not heard of Mary Anning and Elizabeth Philpot discovering fossils of ancient creatures on the coast of England in the 1800’s. It was a story of discovery, friendship and strong women. I love the idea of finding something that no one has seen before. Well worth reading.
I really enjoyed learning about Mary Anning and her discoveries along the coast. I also enjoyed the exhibition of strict rules of propriety for the times, as well as the behavior and expectations of those in different classes. To me it is a bit of a foreign concept. I have, however, enjoyed other Tracy Chevalier books more….particularly The Girl with the Pearl Earring.
Eveyone should know the story why she sells sea shells by the seashore!
Wonderful book.
This is a remarkable book! It tells a fictionalized account of the friendship and accomplishments of Mary Annan as she spends her poverty stricken childhood picking up curries, little fossils, off the beach in south east England. In the early 1800’s Few grasped the idea of extinction, let alone the fossilization of living creatures. As her finds become more remarkable, she gains a following, but never the recognition as one of the first, finest and most original amateur paleontologists in the world.
The other day, I was watching a show on PBS and Richard Attenborough was showing some amazing fossils in a huge exhibit in Europe when he pointed out a huge ictheosaur fossil, and in an off hand manner stated that it had been found by Mary Annan. What would she have thought?? Fantastic!
Wonderful.
Good story, based on two women who really existed and made a difference in the world.
Brought the main characters to life and placed them in the social/historical period.
one of the best books I’ve read this year.
Fascinating. I wonder how much more of history is really Her-story.
I’m not usually fond of historical fiction, but the characters were well developed and felt true. The book created a realistic picture of the time and was enlightening concerning the treatment of women.
A slow read but a poignant one.